The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-20
Partisan Prevarication.

During the campaign just closed, such
portion of the Michigan press as supported
the proposed prohibitory amendment took
particular pains to keep constantly before
the people the fact-and il certainly was a
fact-that it was purely non-partisan meas
ure and that neither republicans, democrats
nor greenbackers were bound by partisan
ties to support or oppose the measure. Such
advice was correct and such was the view
that the people generally took of the matter,
and it was largely owing to its non-partisan-
ship that the amendment received such a
generous support. 1t Is true that the repub
lican party had, in its platforms, pledged
itself to submit the proposition to a vote of
the people, and that pledge, like all other
pledges of the party, was nobly redeemed
but neither of the great parties of the state
had ever pledged itself to the doctrine of
prohibition. Such being the case, republic
cans were under no greater obligations to
vote for the amendment because they were
republicans than were democrats because
they were democrats.
The NoRTHERSEB had no intention of
instituting comparison between the prohi-
bition vote of republican localities and dem
ocratic localities, and would not have done
SO had not its contemporary, the Free Press
and Courier, entered upon course of parti-
san prevarication of which il ought to be
heartily ashamed. That journal did excel
lent work for the amendment, and the
NoBTHEBNER would not detract an iota from
the credit to which it is entitled for 80 doing.
but its course since the election in charging
the defeat of the measure to the republican
party is most contemplate. We quote the
following extracts:
--latest returns indicate that the republ-
can state ticket is elected by at least 10000
majority. Still, the amendment is lost.
Whatever credit was accorded the republican
Legislature for submitting the proposition to
vote of the people is largely overbalanced
by the defeat the measure has received at
their hands
ITO the treachery of the republican party
is the defeat ofthe amendment solely attrib-
utable, and it is this fact which is going TO
weaken and demoralize that party
"The republican party, the only friend
of the temperance cause, and the only
channel through which correct temperance
legislation can be obtained has shown its
loyalty ~ to the cause by defeating with
their ballots the prohibitory amendment.
Had they voted as they talked during the
campaign last fall. the amendment would
have been carried by an overwhelming ma
jority. How much longer will the temper
ance people of Michigan cling to and help
this party of broken promises and unkept
pledges?"
A very casual inspection of the election
returns of different counties of the state will
be sufficient to convince any unprejudiccd
person that there is no truth in the allegation
that the republican party defeated the amend
ment. 1t IL true that in few instances
localities that gave republican plurality for
the state ticket gave majority against the
amendment. but such instances were the
exception and not the rule. Take our own
county for instance. which lays claim to
being the banner republican county Of Mich
igan. and what do we find? Just what we
might reasonably expect and just what was
predicted before election, The largest prohi-
bition majority of any county in the state.
Take Hillsdale county and how was it there?
IL is one of the staunch old republican coun-
ties and rolled up an immense plurality for
the republican ticket and, as matter of
course, it gave large majority for prohibi
ton. second only TO Van Buren, although
the Hillsdale D6mocrot-democratic
our contemporary, the Courier, actively and
vigorously opposed the amendment all
through the campaign.
How was il in Antrim, Allegan, Barry,